(BookTrib) - “Day of Wrath” by Otho Eskin

There are secrets within the Church. Some are worth killing for.

When Washington, D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn arrives at the city’s cathedral, he finds the cardinal archbishop dead beneath a high balcony, a tarot card clutched in his hand. What first appears to be a single murder soon opens onto something far darker: an ancient cult devoted to Holy Death, a trail reaching back to Mexico and a conspiracy threatening the Vatican itself.

With the pope dying and a conclave approaching, Marko has only days to uncover who wanted the archbishop silenced — and why. Complicating matters is his sharp-tongued new partner, Saoirse Richmond, who distrusts both his methods and his judgment.

Fast, sly and steeped in history, “Day of Wrath” sends its unconventional detective into a world of ritual, power and buried secrets where faith can be weaponized and the past holds the key to a modern threat.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/day-of-wrath.

“Marek of the Mists: The Sword of the Moon Maiden” by Corey E. King

In the mist-shrouded kingdom of Storm’s End, Marek has built a life among the Wolfe Gypsies, the clan that raised him after he was found abandoned. A gifted swordsman with a talent for spectacle and survival, he expects danger to come from challengers in the ring — not from an ancient evil gathering beyond the coast.

When a monstrous attack reveals that darker forces are moving, Marek is drawn into a quest involving a shattered celestial blade, a vanished village, a moon goddess and the demon Vuoto, whose followers are preparing for war. Joined by loyal friends, a wolf-husky and the woman he loves, Marek must decide whether he is merely an orphan or the champion Storm’s End has been waiting for.

Fast-paced, illustrated and rich with banter, battles and found-family bonds, “Marek of the Mists” launches a fantasy saga of courage, identity and light against darkness.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/marek-of-the-mists.

“Allegory” by Jack Martin Haley

Set along the Yukon River, “Allegory” follows Fred, a Korean War veteran and once-respected Gwich’in elder whose life has narrowed under the weight of illness, alcohol and public shame. Once known as Sarge, he was a master fish wheel builder and a proud descendant of Shahnyaatii, the legendary “Christian Grandpa.” Now, younger men mock him, and even Fred struggles to hold on to the dignity he once carried so naturally.

When a cancer diagnosis makes it clear that his days are numbered, Fred turns back toward the river — and toward the old fish wheel that once gave him purpose and helped feed his village through the long winters.

With the aid of Jere, a young man preparing for the ministry, Fred begins a final act of restoration and redemption that becomes both practical and mythic. Rooted in Gwich’in tradition and Christian faith, “Allegory” is a resonant story of one man’s last chance to be remembered rightly.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/allegory-epiphany.

“My Hip-Hop Wiz: A Journey Through Rhythm, Resilience, and Self-Discovery” by Innton Tagger

Innton Tagger puts a bold, beat-driven spin on a beloved classic in “My Hip-Hop Wiz,” a high-energy reinvention of “The Wizard of Oz” rooted in hip-hop culture, humor and resilience.

Dorothy Jones is no Kansas farm girl. She’s a self-made real estate mogul whose life is upended when a supernatural storm sweeps her and her loyal Rottweiler, Governor, into a strange new world. Along the way, she joins forces with a sharp-tongued Scarecrow, a bionically rebuilt Tinman and a powerful Lion still learning to master his fear.

As music, magic and danger collide, Dorothy’s journey becomes less about finding a way home than recognizing the strength, wisdom and courage she already carries. Filled with swagger, pop-culture references and plenty of heart, “My Hip-Hop Wiz” celebrates the power of rebuilding after hardship. An accompanying soundtrack (on Apple and Spotify) extends the experience beyond the page, bringing the story’s rhythm and inspiration to life.

Purchase at https://a.co/d/08r160GZ.